Can you guess what Santa delivered to Paris last year? Or last decade, or last century?
Père Noël has been bringing joy and magical surprises to children around the world ever since he set up shop in the North Pole. And Paris is definitely on his route every Christmas Eve. He never fails to answer the hopeful letters from children in the French capital. And he rarely forgets the adults, usually leaving them a little something or other to mark his visit.
To find out what Santa delivered to Paris throughout the years, we asked old Mr. Claus himself. He took time out of his busy schedule to have a chat, and we’re very grateful.
He told us he’s kept very good notes, so he was able to relate with some accuracy the details of payloads past.
Let’s look back and see what was in Santa’s sack over the past 100 years.
1923
The war to end all wars was over. France was at peace. It snowed a little in Paris on Christmas Day. What Santa delivered to Paris were things lucky Parisians really wanted.
Perfume: Fragrances were in the ascendancy in the 1920s, with French perfume houses, such as Coty, Nina Ricci, Chanel and Guerlain releasing new scents.
Fountain pens: Elegant fountain pens from luxury makers Cartier and Waterman, for businessmen and students alike.
Leather handbags: Stylish leather handbags with Art Deco accents and geometric designs from top designers, such as Louis Vuitton.
Silk scarves: Colourful silk scarves with elaborate floral motifs or geometric prints were very on-trend.
Pewter accessories: Cigarette cases, compacts and flasks, made of engraved pewter with Art Deco styling.
Other gifts weighing down Santa’s sleigh were cognac, fine chocolates, first-edition books, cabaret show posters and flapper-esque clothing.
1933
There was no snow on Christmas Day, but St Nick brought some respite from the Depression. What Santa delivered to Paris were:
Fountain pens: Elegant and practical pens from French makers such as Waterman and Cartier.
Perfume: Classic French perfume houses introduced new signature scents annually, offering a small indulgence.
Hats: These were staple accessories for both men and women. Stylish felt fedoras and cloche hats would have been much appreciated.
Books: Reading increased during the Depression as a form of escapism. Popular fiction, poetry and philosophical works were all the rage.
Handcrafted toys: The prevalence of carved wood boats, fabric dolls, painted toy soldiers and artisanal kites was a sign of the times.
Basics such as coal, cosy knitwear, and gramophone records of favourite singers also brought some solace.
1943
Paris was occupied and under the jackboot of the Nazis as WWII continued. Austerity, rationing, and material deprivation challenged traditional gift-giving. Mrs. Claus and the elves worked overtime and made sure Santa’s gifts to Paris were things people needed.
Black market food items: Rare imported chocolate, coffee, spices, oils, and other unavailable food were meaningful luxuries, despite high prices.
Handmade toys and knitted goods: As manufactured toys and apparel became scarce, hand-crafted dolls, stuffed animals, hats and socks seemed more practical.
Books and records: They offered a reprieve from the misery of Nazi occupation. They were highly sought-after, but not always obtainable, even illicitly.
Oil and charcoal: Fuel oil and basic heating and cooking materials were vital, but not easily available.
Handmade soaps and candles: With shortages widespread, these basics were welcome.
Overwhelmingly, Christmas gifts in Paris 1943 were practical goods, to sustain life and spirit, rather than material indulgences.
1953
With recovery and economic expansion under way, the big fella loosened his belt. What Santa delivered to Paris was applauded by everyone:
Perfume: Parisian perfume houses, such as Nina Ricci, Yves Saint Laurent and Coty, introduced alluring new scents to usher in post-war optimism.
High fashion accessories: Stylish gloves, silk scarves, leather handbags and ornate costume jewellery came from Chanel and Jacques Fath.
Cognac: The perfect luxurious gift to toast brighter days ahead. Popular brands included Rémy Martin, Courvoisier and Hennessy.
Books: As the Nazis had suppressed literature, the printed word had added symbolism. Parisians lapped up the works of Camus and Sartre.
Bicycles: Bikes offered transportation and freedom. Growing prosperity enabled gifts of upgraded models with multiple gears and electric lights as appealing options.
Fine chocolates, decadent cakes, radios, jazz records, pens, cameras and the first must-have children’s toys were also under Parisians’ trees.
1963
Sweeping innovations occurred across fashion, music and technology. Mr Claus might have been a bit puzzled, but what Santa delivered to Paris was what the people asked for.
Transistor radios: Portable, miniaturised radios meant listening to pop music and entertainment on-the-go.
Group Yé-Yé records: Popular albums featured chic female yé-yé singers Francoise Hardy and France Gall and male stars Johnny Hallyday and Eddy Mitchell.
New Wave cinema tickets: Gift certificates for showings of Left Bank films by disruptive directors François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Eric Rohmer.
Premium coffee table books: High-end photographic compilations on subjects such as Parisian cafe culture, by Robert Doisneau and other leading artists.
Electric shavers: Modern, electric razors offered convenience and had become fashionable among men.
Other hot selling presents included art house movie cameras, sleek Vespa scooters, innovative kitchen gadgets and luxury writing instruments.
1973
Major cultural and technological shifts took hold globally, having an effect on Santa’s choices, if not his overall benificence. Santa’s deliveries to Paris were:
Record players & records: Turntables and the latest albums from French artists Françoise Hardy, Claude François, and Serge Gainsbourg.
Polaroid cameras: Instant cameras like the iconic Polaroid SX-70 would have been at the height of popularity in 1973.
Bell bottoms & printed tees: Colourful, flared jeans and trippy graphic t-shirts represented the hippie-influenced street style pervading Paris.
Calculators: As electronic calculators became more affordable and more portable, they made excellent gifts.
Paperbacks: Inexpensive paperback copies of recent French literary sensations, such as Georges Perec’s La vie mode d’emploi and Romain Gary’s La vie devant soi.
Incense, novelty toothbrushes, imported foods and early video game were also in Santa’s sack.
1983
Technology, media and culture were rapidly evolving and caused a shift in Père Nöel’s thinking. Still, what Santa delivered to Paris forty years ago included:
Sony Walkman: These hot new portable cassette tape players made listening to music on-the-go even easier.
Minitel: France’s pioneering online network system saw Minitel messaging terminals take off nationally and Santa’s sleigh had loads of them.
Hand-held games: Nintendo’s first handheld LCD video games, such as Donkey Kong, had 80s kids going wild.
Mickey Mouse: From plush toys to lunchboxes, Mickey merchandise was hitting new highs in French gift shops.
L’Initiation: Anne Clifford’s salacious erotic novel was the bestselling French book of 1983, and sparked plenty of Yuletide interest.
Other items in the infancy of their popularity were the first Apple Macintosh computers, VHS players, as well as sequin-decorated denim jackets, legwarmers, neon-coloured appliances and pastel-coloured leather.
1993
Technology continued its rapid advance, and electronic items weighed down Santa’s sleigh like never before. In 1993, Paris was given:
Super Nintendo: Nintendo’s hot new 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System was all the rage.
Tamagotchi: The original digital pet toys from Japan took the world by storm, and French children loved them too.
DVDs: Still early in their commercial existence, but tipped to become the new video format gift to replace VHS tapes.
Fabulous Trobadors: This Toulouse folk-rock band had their breakout nationally in 1993, making their CDs or cassettes big stocking items.
Rugby balls & gear: France hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1993, driving record interest in rugby merchandise as sporting gifts.
Copies of the romantic comedy Three Colors: Blue, early cell phones, and even the first Post-it notes also made it into Santa’s sack.
2003
All technology, all of the time. Santa pondered the centuries gone by as the nature of the new requests coming to him indicated a massive shift in tastes. Twenty years ago, this is what Santa delivered to Paris:
iPod: Apple’s new iconic mp3 player, first launched in 2001, was at peak trendiness.
Mobile/camera phones: Sophisticated mobile phone and camera phone hybrids with colour screens and polyphonic ringtones from Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola.
DVD players: VHS tapes fell from favour, and DVD players gained mass approval. Prices dropped significantly to make home entertainment systems more affordable.
Digital cameras: Sleek new consumer digital cameras started edging out film. Popular models included Sony’s CyberShot, Canon’s IXY Digital, and Nikon CoolPix lines.
Video game consoles: Cutting-edge PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube consoles competed to dominate the home gaming domain.
Virtual pets, digital photo frames, plasma screen televisions and wireless internet routers were under quite a few Parisian Christmas trees, too.
2013
Internet connectivity, social media and device portability enabled increased personalisation and access. Realised he was just there to do as he was asked, a decade ago, this is what Santa delivered:
Tablets: Apple iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs were the new thing in media, apps, browsing and communications.
Fitness trackers: Trendy fitness bands and smart watches – Nike FuelBand, Jawbone Up and early Apple Watches – for the active.
iPhone 5S: Apple’s latest iPhone model packed advanced features into a slim build, with the gold colour especially coveted.
Beats headphones: Fashionable Beats by Dr. Dre headphones in bright hues had immense appeal for music lovers seeking high style and audio quality.
Media streaming devices: Chromecast, Roku, and Apple TV devices for streaming online entertainment emerged as must-haves.
Santa also had requests for app-enabled toys, digital SLR cameras, video game consoles and the first drones.
2022
Social media influences, and the latest innovations now pervade contemporary holiday gift-giving. What did Santa deliver to Paris last year?
AirPods/wireless earbuds: Apple’s AirPods or alternatives like Samsung Buds for audio convenience.
Instagrammable throw blankets: Cosy, photogenic throws and blankets that invited social sharing for youthful apartment dwellers.
Hydro Flask water rottles: Durable and stylish Hydro Flask insulated bottles, as reusable accessories, suitable for eco-minded Parisians.
Electric scooters: Compact e-scooters had people zipping around Paris streets.
Video game consoles: The latest PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S vied for prime spots under the trees.
Gucci Dionysus bags, Nespresso Vertuo coffee machines, interactive robotic pets, the latest iPhones, Netflix gift certificates and pastel-hued kitchenware appliances found their way to style-conscious city dwellers.
What will Santa deliver this year? He wasn’t letting on when we spoke to him. But we don’t have too long to wait – although, for the young ones, the next couple of weeks will seem like an eternity.
One thing’s for sure: it won’t be exactly the same as last year. But that’s OK.
Check out our Francy That! 2023 Advent Calendar: The Big Reveal as you count the days to Christmas.
